In school, we learned about the Seven Wonders of the World. Colossus of Rhodes, Temple of Artemis and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were indeed interesting.
But let’s be real.
Much of our world revolves around Texas A&M football.
We’re more intrigued by colossal road games, linebackers from Temple and hang time on punts.
We wonder about what problems may occur and what solutions can be found for A&M to match or improve on the 11-win campaign of last season.
With that in mind, here are seven wonders of our world to be considered:
• Transfer portal success: Mike Elko’s track record in the transfer portal provides reason for great optimism here.
Previously, A&M has knocked it out of the park with transfers like KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Will Lee III, Nic Scourton and Cashius Howell. All those guys earned postseason honors.
A&M has also added productive starters like T.J. Searcy, Tyler Onyedim, Dezz Ricks, Marcus Ratcliffe, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Nate Boerkircher and Jabre Barber.
The Aggies' hit rate has been extremely impressive. There are needs to fill at receiver, in the secondary, at linebacker and along the offensive and defensive lines. Can Elko strike gold again?
• Marcel Reed improvement: Though fading in the last two games, Reed had a good showing in his first season as the full-time starting quarterback. He passed for more yardage (3,169) and touchdowns (25) than any A&M quarterback since Johnny Manziel in 2013.
Alas, he also threw the most interceptions (12) since 2013. Additionally, half of those interceptions were on plays snapped at the opponents’ 21-yard line or closer.
Reed can be a strong Heisman contender if he increases his yardage and touchdown totals while significantly reducing his number of interceptions.
He also needs to raise his 62.1 percent completion rate. Will a new quarterbacks coach and a year of growth bring those desired results?
• Preventing explosive running plays: It’s not that A&M has played bad run defense. The Aggies were a respectable 40th nationally vs. the run.
But the tendency to allow big runs has been a major problem for two seasons. A&M allowed 21 runs of 20 yards or more. The Aggies gave up 12 runs of at least 30 yards and eight of at least 40. All were the most in the SEC. In the 2024 season, A&M was also last in the SEC in allowing runs over 20 yards (19).
Giving up massive runs was a key issue in both A&M losses. Throughout the season, Elko lamented over missed run fits. Is the problem due to personnel? Scheme? Both? Will the changes of defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, defensive line coach Elijah Robinson and a new linebackers coach awaken the Aggies' defense from that recurring nightmare?
• Rebuilding the offensive line: The Aggies figure to lose at least four starting linemen. If they’re lucky, guard Chase Bisontis and center Mark Nabou Jr. will choose to return, but that can’t be taken for granted in today’s college football.
The task facing A&M is softening as much as possible the loss to players like Trey Zuhn III, Reed-Adams and Dametrious Crownover.
Are tackles Robert Bourdon and former five-star prospect Lamont Rogers ready to step in and step up? How about Blake Ivy or Ashton Funk? Can the Aggies add a couple of proven blockers through the transfer portal?
A quick rebuild is vital to continue the upward trajectory A&M is on under Elko.
Just look at LSU. A year ago, LSU lost four offensive line starters. Consequently, the Tigers were dismal up front. They were last in the SEC in rushing and tied for ninth in sacks allowed. Don’t be like LSU.
• Terry Bussey’s future: The former five-star prospect was brought in to play cornerback. Injuries and a lack of depth at receiver led to Bussey shifting positions in 2024. He’s provided nice depth. In two seasons, Bussey has caught 25 passes for 411 yards and a touchdown. He figures to keep improving.
But with Craver and Bethel-Roman returning, former five-star prospect Jerome Myles expected back from injury, likely transfer portal additions and the arrival of freshman Aaron Gregory, will there be consideration to move Bussey back to the secondary?
• Upgrade the kicking game: Special teams were a source of great angst in 2025. If not for Concepcion’s heroics in punt returns, they’d have been an abject failure.
Four kicks — two punts, two field goals — were blocked. Punting was solid, though unspectacular. Place kicking was spectacularly unsuccessful.
The blocked punts resulted in a touchdown (vs. Notre Dame) and a safety (vs. LSU). Fortunately, A&M still managed to prevail in those games.
The Aggies weren’t as lucky on field goals. Jared Zirkel had a 35-yard attempt blocked in the loss to Texas. He had a 22-yard try blocked in the loss to Miami.
Zirkel converted only four of seven field goal attempts. The solution wasn’t as easy as switching to Randy Bond, who hit only 12 of 19 tries.
A&M kickers converted just 61.5 percent of field goals. That was 122nd in the nation, which was better than the punt return coverage. The Aggies were 123rd in that category.
What changes will be made to upgrade special teams?
• Increased interceptions: The Aggies tied with Georgia State, Florida Atlantic, Stanford and Rice for 131st in the nation with three interceptions. Those four teams combined for 14 wins.
That A&M managed just three picks — only one by a defensive back — is mind-boggling considering the Aggies finished second in the nation with 43 sacks. A strong pass rush typically leads to interceptions. Eight of the other teams in the top 10 in sacks had at least nine interceptions.
A&M, at minus-9, had the worst turnover margin of the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma, at minus-3, was the only other playoff team with a negative turnover margin.
Some ball-hawking defensive backs need to be found or developed to increase A&M’s moribund interception totals.
